The continuing investment boom in North America, based on cheap shale gas, has created a number of challenges for the engineering and construction (E&C) industry. Chief among them is a shortage of craft workers, which will peak in 2016–17, when the bulk of heavy construction will take place in the United States. The chemical industry, including many foreign companies, is investing $100 billion through 2020 in shale gas–related projects....http://www.chemweek.com/sections/cover_story/Shortage-of-workers-could-derail-US-projects_65584.html

Mideast producers, after more than three decades of expanding—which established the region as the world’s low-cost supplier—have to rethink expansion strategies and diversify because of a regional shortage of gas, North America’s return to petrochemicals prominence on the rise of inexpensive shale gas, and the explosive growth of China’s coal-to-chemicals industry.

Air Products CEO Seifi Ghasemi, who took the helm 1 July, outlined a major restructuring in September that puts the company’s focus back on its industrial gas core and targets becoming the most profitable industrial gases company.

Latin America offers distinct opportunities to the petrochemical industry. Energy reforms and legal and financial changes being introduced or planned in the leading economies—although at differing stages of development—form a key part of a framework that would guarantee access to competitively priced raw materials.